chapter 7

A vast, shadowed field stretched endlessly. There, a lone man stood clad in crimson armor, blood seeping through the cracks in its plating. The dark green grass beneath him slowly turned a sickening shade of red as droplets of blood rained down upon it.

"WHY!? Why? How!? When!? DIE!! You dare!? Weakling! Incomplete! Unwort—"
"WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY!"

Voices—dozens, perhaps hundreds—echoed from every direction. Though it was no valley, their cries resounded as if the land itself screamed. Countless voices ranted and raved, indistinct yet furious.

The man in red remained still, even as more blood streamed from within his armor. Through the narrow slits of his helmet, his gaze was fixed—unblinking, unwavering—as tears of blood trailed from his eyes, the cacophony around him swelling.

"AHHHH!!!"

The room shook. Hals jolted upright, gasping, clutching his blanket as he screamed in despair. His eyes were wide, nearly bloodshot from panic.

Without thinking, he clutched at his chest and face driven purely by instinct and overwhelming fear.

It... It’s getting worse. I have to hurry...

Beads of sweat streamed down his skin, soaking him like a man caught in a downpour with no place to hide.

Hals glanced at the table to his right and reached out for a folded piece of paper, thick and bundled like a crude club.

“I wonder what’s happening outside right now,” he muttered, pulling at the thin string that held the newspaper together.

“Wha...!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” he screamed.

“Damn it... It’s too soon...” Hals panted, nearly crumpling the newspapers in his grip as his trembling hands clenched tightly around them.

“Dagger... send a message to Terisha. Tell her to come here,” he called out to the empty room, his voice low but firm, echoing faintly against the silence.

A few minutes later, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed like a gallop. Terisha, well-dressed and composed, entered the room, clearly surprised...she hadn’t expected to be summoned at such an hour, or on this particular day.

She walked in briskly, her steps quick and purposeful. Without hesitation, she spoke,

“Hals... close your eyes and lower the power across your entire body....except your vital organs.”

He obeyed silently, steadying his breath as he followed her instructions.

“Then I’ll begin.”

Terisha raised her right hand, straightening her palm. She brought it down onto his forehead not too fast, not too slow. Just enough.

Pak.

The sound was soft, almost dull. In its wake, faint blue particles began to shimmer in the air...so delicate they were nearly invisible, only noticeable to those who truly focused their gaze.

As she continued her work, a bead of sweat rolled down her temple.

“This is bad... Is this rot? No…” she muttered, her brows furrowing in confusion.

“I knew making a vow in exchange for power was dangerous, but not like this...” Her voice trembled slightly. She stepped back for a moment, her hands hovering in uncertainty.

“Your eyes... and the veins that control and transmit magic throughout your vessel... they’re degrading...rapidly,” Terisha said quietly, her voice heavy with concern.

She clenched her hands slightly, struggling to keep her composure. “At this rate, you’ll lose more than just your vision... your ability to control magic may collapse entirely.”

“I never had the ability to control it in the first place, hehe...” he smirked, tilting his head slightly as he looked in her direction.

“Even if I can’t see your face with my eyes... I still have a few tricks left to recognize someone,” he added, his tone light, but the weight behind his words was undeniable.

“You barely even have a decade to live...how are you so carefree about it!?” Terisha snapped, her voice cracking with frustration and worry.

She stepped forward, fists clenched, unable to understand the calmness in his expression...like the weight of his fate didn’t even reach him.

“That doesn’t matter now,” Hals said, his voice calm but resolute. “I’ve still got something left to do. You’ve given me less than a decade just enough time to finish my final task as a retainer.”

But...!

Terisha opened her mouth to protest, but he gently cut her off.

“Terisha... it was wonderful to meet all of you,” he said, a warmth in his tone that softened the weight of his words. “Truly.”

“I have to go now... there’s something I need to attend to before afternoon,” she said, turning toward the door.

Her sandals echoed softly against the floor, the sound fading through the almost empty room.

“S-see you later...” she added, her voice quieter, almost hesitant as she walked away.